Monthly Archives: April 2015

We were reading a community news feed1 that hit our desks the other day and it stopped us in our tracks.

Even though aerosol cans are easily recyclable – and 90% of people in Australia could recycle them, it seems around two thirds (66%) of Australians aren't sure what to do with them. The figure came up in a recycling report by Planet Ark and was reported by our counterpart organisation, the Aerosol Association of Australia (AAA).

Here in Britain, we often think of Australians as being steps ahead of us when it comes to recycling and sustainability.

Yet despite the good work of the AAA, aerosol cans seem to cause confusion with just one third (33%) of people in Oz correctly identifying them as recyclable; 54% incorrectly say they aren't recyclable; and a further 12% say they aren't sure. With Australians using a staggering 250 million aerosols every year, this means an enormous amount of recyclable high quality steel and aluminium is ending up in landfill.

It just acted as a reminder of how far we in the UK have come. Thanks to campaigns by BAMA such as our ‘Can Do’ Awards for local authorities, along with programmes such as the Alupro campaign, supported by BAMA and others, the majority of councils collect empty aerosols from the kerbside and most consumers know they can recycle them.

It’s salutary to remember that in 2001 just 7% of councils recycled empty aerosols; by 2009, 75% recycled; and by 2014 – over 90% recycled. This means that the 30000 tonnes of reclaimable high-grade metal waste produced via the 600 million aerosols or so used in the UK each year gets reused, not sent to landfill.

The latest research we conducted showed that the overwhelming majority of Brits know they can and should recycle aerosols and that, most importantly, most do. Of those who buy aerosols in the UK, 73% are recycling them.

We in the UK should be proud of this achievement. We’re never complacent; we know you don’t have to be bad to get better. However, we think it’s important sometimes to look back on how far we’ve come – and in the case of recycling aerosols, it’s a very long way indeed.

BAMA (the British Aerosol Manufacturers’ Association), is to hold its annual Forum on 15-16 October 2015. The event will again take place at The Belfry Hotel in Sutton Coldfield. The results of the BAMA Awards will also be announced at a gala dinner to be held on 15th October. Both the event and the Awards are open to all BAMA members.

Now in their seventh year, the BAMA Awards recognise and promote the high standards in the UK aerosol industry and are a valuable way of promoting businesses and so all BAMA members who have launched new products or other innovations are encouraged to enrol entries.This year, entertainment will be provided by Dominic Holland (pictured) who has been invited as the guest comedian at this year’s dinner. One of the country’s most highly regarded comedians, Dominic has enjoyed success as both a stand-up comedian and a writer and is often seen as a panellist on shows including Five's The Wright Stuff, Have I Got News For You and Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Dominic has written for the late Bob Monkhouse, Harry Enfield, Lenny Henry and Clive Anderson, as well as being the author of three novels including the critically acclaimed Only In America.
There will be rewards for BAMA members who enter the Awards and prizes worth a total of £3000 for the companies which are picked as winners or runners-up in two of the Awards’ categories.

Companies engaged in any aspect of the aerosol industry but which are not already members of BAMA, may enter the Awards and attend the Forum and gala dinner as long as they have applied for membership and have their application accepted before 7th September, which is the closing date for Awards entries. Entry forms will be available on the BAMA website shortly.

The Members' rate to attend the two-day event is £199 + VAT which includes lunch, the seminars, the Awards Dinner plus accommodation for one night and breakfast. Non-members may not attend the seminars although BAMA welcomes members to invite guests to the Awards Dinner.

If you are not yet a member and believe your company is eligible for membership contact: amyfalvey@bama.co.uk.